Melville company gets approval to take over portion of STC passenger routesBack to video

Owner and operator Diane Smith tells Regina radio station CJME that the business plans to expand in the near future to other communities, such as Canora, Kamsack, Preeceville and Sturgis.

She says her company’s website is being updated with information about schedules and fees.

DiCal was one of a number of companies that applied to the province’s Highway Traffic Board to handle STC routes after the government shuttered the Crown-owned bus company this spring as part of cost-saving measures.

Smith says she got word Thursday morning that her application had been successful.

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“We’re really excited. We’ve been anxiously awaiting for the final piece of paper so we can start operating this service,” she said. “I’m certain we’re going to have passengers and we’re going to be busy.”

DiCal originally wanted to start operating June 1, just two weeks after STC service ended, but its permit was stalled and there were protests over the closure of the government-run bus company.

“We were all subject to the same type of backlash from the same group of protesters,” said Smith. “All of us that applied for operating authority certainly were dragged into the political dispute and essentially chastised for wanting to fill a void.”

Smith said the company needs to advertise but she’s already responding to calls and emails from people inquiring about the service.

She noted that her Facebook page has received thousands of hits since news broke about the approval.

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